Question:
Does Cigna require you to have had Doctor supervised diets?
I'm just going to go to my first meeting about getting the surgery. Very excited, but I've never done a Doctor Supervised diet. Will Cigna approve you with out having done one? I live in Minnesota — Trish S. (posted on September 29, 2004)
September 29, 2004
According to their website the answer is yes it.
http://www.cigna.com/health/provider/medical/procedural/coverage_positions/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf
I am also starting the procedure too. I am going to OSHU for the initial
consultation. I am sure they will know the official answers.
— Jerry S.
September 29, 2004
When I had my WLS in 8/2002, Cigna required 3 12-week physician supervised
diets, one of which had to be in the last year. As of November 2003, I've
been told they required 2 6-month physician supervised diets, one of which
had to be in the past year. They are a real stickler on this point, so get
it documented or get it done. They probably won't approve you without it.
— Cathy S.
September 29, 2004
Yes Cigna does require. I did not have an "official" supervised
diet, but I have been seeing my PCP monthly for almost a year, and there
were weights and notes in my charts about nutrition and dieting as well as
what I was doing to loose weight at any given time (gym, fad diet etc..).
He also stated what effects (physical and emotional) the weight was having,
and that I was in counseling for depression which is primarily weight
related! I got lucky and had a good doc who documented everything well,
even though visits were to monitor one of the meds I no longer have to
take!!
Good Luck,
Carmen
— Carmen S.
September 29, 2004
I had a different experience with CIGNA. I went to a consult with the
surgeon, he wrote a letter of medical necessity. I faxed it to CIGNA and
was approved one day later. No medical supervised diet, psych consult or
anything. I guess it is just luck or who gets your case file.
— [Deactivated Member]
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